Air Power Series>1:72 die-cast display model>F-102>HA3104

General Background

The Convair F-102 Delta Dagger was designed to be an interceptor aircraft and act as the core of USAF air defenses in the late 1950s. The F-102 first appeared in service in 1956 with the task to intercept Soviet bombers. The official name for the F-102 was “Delta Dagger” but the most common term used was “Deuce”. There was 889 F-102As manufactured when production ended in September 1958. The Deuce served in Vietnam on fighter patrols and bomber escort. 15 F-102s were lost while in Vietnam.

The Aircraft

On August 9, 1954 the 525th Fighter-Bomber-Squadron was re-designated 525th Fighter- Interceptor-Squadron “The Fighting Bulldogs”. On February 12, 1957 the squadron was moved to Bitburg Air Base in Germany where it stayed until 1992. In February 1959 the 525th FIS received its first F-102 Delta Dagger “Deuce” and used them until 1969. F-102 56-1111 c/n 08-10-328 was sent to MASD (Military Aircraft Storage and Disposition) in 1975. Later it was converted to a QF-102A and ended its career as a PQM-102 target.

Specifications :

Role :	Supersonic All-Weather, delta wing interceptor
Crew:	1 pilot
Number Produced :	889
Dimensions
Length :	68 ft 4 in (20.83
Wingspan :	38 ft 1 in (11.61 m)
Height :	21 ft 2 in (6.45 m)
Weight
Empty :	19,350 lb 8,777 kg)
Loaded :	24,500 lb (11,100 kg)
Maximum Takeoff :	31,500 lb (14,300 kg)
Powerplant :	1 x Pratt & Whitney J57-P-25 afterburning turbojet
Thrust
Dry :	11,700 lbf (8,777 kg)
With Afterburner :	17,200 lbf (76.5 kN)
Fuel
Internal :	1.085 US gal (4,107 l)
External :	2 x 215 US gal (815 l) drop tanks
Armament:
Rockets :	24 x 2.75 in (70 mm) FFAR (Folding Fin Aerial Rocket) unguided rockets in missile bay doors
Missiles :	AIM-4 Falcon air-to-air
	AIM-26 Falcon with conventional or nuclear warhead
	Missiles were contained in 3 bays inside the aircraft belly
Avionics :	MG-10 fire control system designed by Hughes Aircraft Company